Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2013
10. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the July provision programme for children with autism and if siblings with autism will be entitled to one-to-one provision to meet their individual needs as stated in section 7 of the terms and conditions of the 2011 July provision scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32209/13]
View answerThe Terms and Conditions document for the 2011 home based July Provision scheme has been superceded by revised terms and conditions in 2012 and in 2013. The 2013 revised Terms and Conditions document makes it clear that the vast majority of July Provision applications are for 1 child. In each case an individual tutor is sanctioned by my Department. In a small number of cases however there will be more than one child in the family who are eligible for home tuition. In these circumstances a combined allocation is made to qualifying siblings. One-to-one provision therefore is not an entitlement of the scheme but is reflective of the fact that the tuition is provided in the qualifying child's home. Home based tuition is intended to compensate for the absence of school based provision where one teacher is allocated to a class of six pupils. It is therefore appropriate that a tutor can provide collective tuition to siblings following individualised programmes in the home at the same time in the same way that a teacher can provide collective tuition in a classroom.
